- Beginner players often make common mistakes because they lack knowledge.
- Common mistakes involve etiquette violations, missed opportunities, and responsible gambling errors.
- Disciplined betting plans and focus during gameplay can aid inexperienced players.
Although there are several common mistakes in craps, most of them have an identical cause: inexperienced players simply don’t know what they’re doing wrong or missing when playing online casino table games.
Learning about craps or other online casino dice games may feel intimidating at first, but the reality is that the knowledge necessary to avoid the most common beginner mistakes thankfully isn’t complicated. BetMGM Casino has put together this beginner craps guide to help those just starting out.
Why Should New Players Understand Craps Strategy for Beginners?
Craps strategy for beginners focuses on basic elements of gameplay like jargon, odds, and rules. It’s important to grasp these basics because otherwise you’ll likely hold up the game due to being confused about what is going on.
How Important is Learning the Lingo of Craps?
Being familiar with basic craps terminology won’t only make you feel more comfortable as you play but also allow you to focus on the action on the table.
For example, one of the most essential parts of game jargon is the come-out roll in craps, which is the first roll of the dice in a round of craps. Understanding what terms like that mean is essential to building your knowledge of the game further.
To continue with the example, you can’t deepen your knowledge of craps come roll betting strategy if you don’t know what the come roll is. Once you’ve gotten comfortable with the basic lingo, it’s time to do the same with the odds in craps.
Do New Players Need to Understand the Math in Craps?
Players need to get a handle on the math involved in craps because ignoring it is essentially “flying blind” with their bets. Each roll in craps consists of a pair of six-sided dice, so there are always 36 possible outcomes on each roll.
The casino odds on games of craps reflect this simple math, but then you must adjust for the casino house edge and the bets you’re considering.
For example, if you’ve placed a Pass Line bet, you need a seven or an 11 on the come-out roll to win.
There are eight possible outcomes that match those desired results (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 5-6, 6-1, 6-5), so your true odds of winning a Pass Line bet are 2 in 9. While your potential payout won’t reflect the true odds because of the casino house edge, understanding this basic math will allow you to identify craps bets that fit your risk tolerance.
What Do Inexperienced Players Need to Know About Craps Etiquette?
The social aspect is a big part of the popularity of dice games at online and offline casinos. However, the game is only enjoyable for everyone if everyone observes some simple guidelines for behavior at the table.
Why is it Rude to Place a Bet Mid-Roll?
One of the first faux pas that new players make is trying to put a bet down mid-roll. This is among the most annoying craps table etiquette violations because it interrupts the flow of the game for everyone who was at the table.
The best way to avoid making this mistake is to check the table’s “puck” (a marker that shows the state of the game). If the croupier has turned the puck to “off,” that is your indication that you need to wait to place your bet.
What is the Rule About Using Both Hands to Handle the Dice?
Money is on the line anytime that you gamble, whether you play craps or baccarat, blackjack, roulette, or any other online casino table game. Those stakes can make casino staff and other players wary of anything out of the ordinary or unnecessary, like using both of your hands when it’s your turn as the shooter.
For that reason, a primary consideration in how to play craps is to always use only one hand to grab and shoot the dice. Doing so will ensure that everyone at the table is confident in the outcome of your roll.
What are the Biggest Craps Betting Mistakes?
Common betting mistakes that beginner players usually make include ignoring the house edge and taking on unnecessary risks. Two of the best beginner craps tips involve considering odds bets and evaluating field bets carefully.
What Makes Odds Bets So Good for Players?
Odds bets are a kind of side bet that you may place in craps behind your main bet, like a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line wager. They’re some of the best bets available at a casino because they contain no house edge.
The benefit for players here is that combining your standard wagers with odds bets decreases the overall casino house edge on the entire package. However, you’re still increasing your stake when you place odds bets, so it’s wise to stick to the minimums as you get comfortable.
Why Do Field Bets Present a “Trap” for Inexperienced Bettors?
Field bets can trip up beginner craps strategies because inexperienced bettors will see that the wager covers a field of numbers and think that gives them a good shot to win. However, field bets are still predicated on the result of a single roll, so it represents a higher risk than other options on the table.
The standard house edge for field bets is 5.56%, which is over four times as large as the traditional 1.41% house edge on the Pass Line bet in craps. Taking on that risk may not be the best use of your bankroll.
Why is Bankroll Management in Craps So Important?
Bankroll management in craps is what empowers you to gain the experience necessary to move from beginner status to experienced player. The main components of craps bankroll management are formulating a betting plan and sticking to it as your session plays out.
How Do Craps Players Set Limits?
Responsible gambling principles guide craps players in setting limits for their sessions. You can start out by establishing an overall budget for your play that represents an amount of money that you can easily afford to lose.
With that limit in mind, you can then allocate that budget to the wagers you want to place and the amount of time that you would like to spend playing. With that plan in place, your next concern is staying disciplined during gameplay.
What Makes Chasing Losses in Craps Such a Bad Idea?
Craps is an unpredictable game of chance, meaning that every bet represents a potential loss of the money you risked. The worst thing that you can do following a loss is to deviate from your betting plan in an attempt to “win back” your lost bankroll.
Doing so is called chasing losses and can lead to harmful habits in gambling. If you feel yourself tempted to chase losses during your session, that’s a sign that you need to take a break or end your session for the day.
Practice Playing Craps Responsibly at BetMGM Casino
Just as chasing losses can lead to bad habits in your gambling, playing responsibly can help you form good habits. That’s why BetMGM offers each player a suite of responsible gambling tools to use when they play First Person Craps or any other craps game available on BetMGM’s apps and website.
You can check out the whole lineup and start to build your experience with craps when you register for BetMGM. With these tips and BetMGM, you’ll graduate from craps beginner status in no time.
